Interchangeable electric apparatus



March 14, 1944. c. H. LORENZ 4,

INTERCHANGEABLE ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1940 Ti i. 11 1 a 4m 1 a 1 M 3a a l 3 Z2 /J//////// //fi(/\// \za 12a 1 V8 30 T135. CHARLES HENRY LORENZ 3y hale ai'lvrneys Patented Mar. 14, 1 944 UNITED YS IA TES PATENT OFFICE urnncnamcsanfi r i itcrmchpranuns Q I Charles Henry Lorenz, New HartforiLComL, as-

.signor to The Arrow-Bart h Hegeman Electric Company, Hartford, Conn.. a corporation of Connecticut 1 Application December 11, 1940, Serial No. 369,089 9 Claims. (or 115-301) This invention relates to an assembly of electrical units, which may be diil'erently -or identically functioningfor example, push button switches, reversing switches. pilot lights, etc.

More particularly, it relates to such an assembly which is weather-proof and in which the units are interchangeable in .position.

Heretofore, in weather-proof assemblies of electrical units, the units have not been intereign matter will not interfere with their operation or foul the contacts.

It is an object of this invention to provide in-- terchangeable electric units in a weather-proof assembly.

Another object is to provide an assembly of the above type in which the actuators of the various units, while on the cover or equivalent mounting, can be separated from the units andtheir mounting without interfering with the units themselves nor destroying the weather-proofing vided two or more smaller screw-threaded apertures, for example 22 and 24, for the reception of screw bolts by means of which the various units are mounted to the bridge I2.

In Fig. l of the drawing, there are shown several electric control units. Preferably, these units are made of substantially the same size and as nearly as possible of the same shape so that they may be interchangeable in position. In Fig. 1, there are shown a pilot light 24, push button actuated .switches 26 and 28, and a transfer switch 30. Since the details of construction of these individual units do not form any part of this invention, they will not be described in detail. It is suflicient to point out that each has an insulating base with holes bored from bottom to top for the receptionof screw bolts, which take into the small apertures 22 and 24, and by that means a the individual units are separately secured to the of the seal between the cover,v or its equivalent,

and the actuators.

Another object is to provide an assembly of the above type wherein the units may be interchangeably positioned on their mounting and their actuators may 'be interchangeably positioned in weather-proof mountings in the cover, or its equivalent, so as to permit complete flexibility of manufacture when the various units are required in any of a plurality of positions.

Other objects and advantages of myinvention will become apparent as itis described in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal middle-section view of electrical apparatus embodying the principles of the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the cover when removed from the base of'the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan'view of the base with the cover removed.

Referring to the'drawing, the apparatus may be conveniently mounted within a rectangular or other casing l0, having a supporting bridge l2 extending. across the open face of the upper part of the casing It. The supporting bridge i2 may be in the form of a strip of sheet metal in which are stamped a series of aligned circular openings l4, It, l8 and 20 of uniform size. Adjacent the periphery of these several holes may be promounting strap I2. As illustrated in Fig. l, the pilot light of the device 24 extends through the aperture 20 while the push button 21 of the push button device 26 and the push button 29 of the push button device 28 extend through the holes I8 and I6 respectively. At the extreme right of the construction, the rotary actuating means of the transfer switch extends through. the open- 'ing Q A cover 32 is provided for the casing l0: In this cover are bored four holes which are in register with the four holes in the mounting strap I2 when the cover is mounted upon the casing Ill. The actuators for the several electrical units of the apparatus are all secured in the cover and are mounted by appropriate means of identical nature as will now be described. Since the mounting means are identical, reference to the push button 28 will be sufllcient for understanding of the invention. In each of the holes of the cover a tubular neck 40 is mounted. The neck is held on the cover by a nut 4i screwed on its lower end which thus clamps the coverbetween said nut and an external flange 43 formed on the lower middle of the neck. The neck is provided in its mid-portion with an internal flange 42. Screwed into the top of the collar 401s a flanged sleeve 46 which is machined to provide a bore for the stem 48 of an actuator. To weather-proof the Joint between the stem of the actuator and the neck 40, packing 44 is provided between the flanged sleeve 48 and the internal The actuators for the various units are each provided with a cap 50 having a depending skirt portion 52. The caps may be integral with or detachable from the stems. Preferably the skirt II is of sufilcient length so that in all operating positions of the actuator, the skirt will overhang theiopendoisaidneckll,butatthesametime' the buttons, e. g., 2|. are normally spring urgedupwardly. Thus, the button will normally hold the actuator in uppermost position, but when the actuator is pressed down, the button will likewise be depressed, causing operation of the push button unit. It will be apparent, however, that the invention is not limited to that type of push button unit.

The transfer switch unit I is of different construction than the push button units in the respect that it operates by rotary movement of the actuator, rather than by reciprocation, as in push button units. It has an operating shaft extending up out of its base through the supporting bridge l2. Secured rigidly on this extending end a a stamped sheet metal yoke comprising a disc portion perpendicular to the shaft "Land parallel arms I4 on opposite sides of and parallel to the shaft Ill. For engaging the yoke and operating the transfer switch as the stem 80 is turned, there is provided a coupling member 60 pinned to the lower end of the actuator stem 80 by a diametrical pin 68. The coupling member 86 may be cylindrical with a central bore to receive the end of stem 60, and the shaft Ill. To receive and engage the parallel arms 14 a diametrical slot II is cut in the lower face of the coupling.

The cap 82 on the transfer switch actuator is or may be a separate piece held in place by a set screw engaging a flat on the end of the stem iii. Rotation of the actuator, thus, will cause the arms 14 to be engaged by the coupling 86 and to be rotated to operate the transfer switch clockwise or counterclockwise, as the case may be.

From the apparatus as thus far described, it will be apparent that any one of the units can be mounted in any one of the four mounting holes of the bridge I! as desired. Similarly, the mounting necks 40 can be mounted in any of the cover holes as desired. Furthermore, after the necks are mounted, the actuators can be mounted in any one of the necks. There is, therefore, complete flexibility and interchangeability of the units and at the same time complete flexibility and interchangeability of the actuators to accommodate the selective positioning of the units. This complete interchangeability is accomplished concomitantly with weather-proofing of the apparatus.

The transfer switch shaft II is internally threaded in its extending end in order that an insulating handle may be secured thereon by a screw bolt, in case the unit is to be sold alone, or with other non-weather-proof units. This brings out another advantage of the invention. In case the units have been sold or have been in use as part of a non-weather-proof assembly, the assembly may be converted to weather-proof assembly without change in the units, but by merely adding the weather-proof cover actuators. A valuable feature of the invention is the ability to remove or separate the cover and its actuators, in combination, from the remainder of the assembly without interfering therewith.

ment but within the scope of the invention will occurtothoseskilledinthearhandtherefore the invention is limited only by the appended claims Within the range of possible variations is the mounting of the necks 4| and the actuators carried thereby in holes drilled in the frame, enclosureorotherpartofamachine. The ll might be mounted on the back of said part, onclosure or frame, to form, with the machine, a complete enclosure for the units.

The use of the invention in industry will sugest tothoseskilledintheartmanyotherpossiblevariationsanduseswithinthescopeofths invention.

I claim:

i. In a weather-proof assembly of individual differently constructed and diflerently operated electric imits selected from a group including push buttons, transfer switches, reversing switches, pilot lights, and the like, a supporting memba having apertures therein to interchangeably receive any of a plurality of said different individual electric units, means to secure said different units interchangeably on said member, a member overlying and protecting said units and their support and having openings for actuating means overlying said units, similar weather-proof members mounted in said openings, and different actuating means supported and movable within said weather-proof members and engaging said different 'units to operate them from the outside of said protecting member, said actuating means being interchangeably positionable in any of said weather-proof members.

2. In a weather-proof assembly of individual differently constructed and differently operated electric units selected from a group of individual units of approximately the same size including various types and kinds of circuit controlling, connecting and indicating units, a supporting member for said different units, means to interchangeably secure said units on said member in predetermined positions, a protective mounting member overlying and protecting said units and their support and having openings for actuating means, weather-proof members interchangeably mountable in said openings, and different actuating means supported and movable within said weather-proof members and engaging said units to operate them from the outside of said protective member, said different actuating means being interchangeably positionable in any of said Many variations from the illustrated embodiweather-proof members to accommodate the selected positioning of the different units on their support.

3. In a weather-proof assembly of individual electric units selected from a group of individual units of approximately the same size including various types and kinds of circuit controlling, connesting and indicating units, an enclosing casing, a supporting member for different units mounted within said casing, means to interchangeably' secure said different units on said member in predetermined positions. a cover for said casing having openings for actuating means, weather-proof members interchangeably mountable in said openings, and diflerent actuating means supported and movable within said weather-proof members and engaging said units to operate them from the outside of said cover. said diiferent actuating means being inter changeably positionable in any of said weatherproof members to accommodate the selected positioning oi the diflerent units on their support 4-. A weather-proof assembly as set iorth in claim 2, wherein'the amazement oi the actuating means with the units is non-permanent whereby said protective member and the parts mounted thereon may be separated as an assembled combination from said units without disturbing the weather-proofing oi the actuating 5. A weather-proof assembLv as set iorth in claim' 3, wherein the engagement of the actuating means with the units is non-permanent whereby said cover and the parts mounted thereon may be separated as an assembled combination from said units without disturbing the weather-proofing of the actuating means.

6. In a weather-proof assembly of individual electric units selected from a group of individual unitsoi approximately the same size including various types and kinds of circuit controlling, connecting and indicating units, av supporting member for diflerent units, means to interchangeably secure said diiierent units on said member in predetermined positions, a protective mounting member overlying and protecting said units and their support and having openings for actuating means, weather-proof members interchangeably mountable in said openings, rotary and reciprocative actuating means interchangeably positionable within and supported by said weather-proof members, said actuating means non-permanently n agin said units to operate them from outside said protective member but being removable with said protective member as an assembled part of the apparatus.

7. The means for optionally creating a weather-proof or non-weather-prooi assembly of individual interchangeable electric units seiicted from a group of individual units of approximately the same size including various types and kinds oi circuit controlling, connecting and indicating units, a supporting member for diilerent units, means to interchangeably secure said diflerent units on said member in predetermined positions, a covering member overlying said units and their support, said covering memberhaving a plurality of openings into which operating members of said units extend, whereby said units when used in non-weather-proot assemblies may be operated from outside said covering member,

and weather-proof members interchangeably mountable in said openings, and diflerent actuating means supported and movable-within said weather-proof members and engaging said units to operate them from the outside of said prote'ctive member, when the assembly is to be weatherproof.

8. In weather-proof electrical apparatus, an enclosure formed of cooperating members, a plurality oi dissimilarly formed and functioning electrical units of approximately the same size, means for mounting said dissimilar units interchangeably in selected positions'on one of said .enclosure members, a plurality of dissimilar operating members mounted on another enclosure member in position to operate said units, mounting means for said operating members constructed and arranged to receive reciprocative or rotary operating members interchangeably whereby each operating member mounted omsaid,

another enclosure member may be located in proper position to actuate the unit for which it was in ded irrespective of which of the selected positions on said one enclosure member is chosen tor the unit. to occupy.

9. In weather-proof electric apparatus, an enclosure formed of cooperating members, a plurality or dissimilarly, formed and functioning electrical units of approximately the same size,

means for mounting said dissimilar units interchangeably in selected positions on one of said enclosure members, a plurality of dissimilar operating members mounted on another enclosure member in position to operate said units, mounting means for said operating members constructed and arranged to receive reciprocative or rotary operating members interchangeably whereby each of the dissimilar operating members mounted on said another enclosure member may be located in proper position to actuate the unit for which it was intended irrespective of which of the selected positions on said one enclosure member is chosen for the units to occupy, said enclosure members being constructed and arranged so as to be separable as two assembled combinations of parts when said units and their operating members are secured on said one and said other enclosure member respectively. 4 f

' exam-us HENRY I-iORENZ. 

